I've never seen anything like this before. Did they apply a ceramic layer to the screen? The second image has been enhanced using AI.

These are rubber mats that prevent the attachment of magnetic mines. During combat in the Gaza Strip, crews covered all vehicles with them, not just Merkavas.

Thanks

I doubt that these are ceramic elements. Seems like rubber pads without the AI over-sharpening. Other examples include rubber strips and even acoustic foam panels being glued to the sides of the hull, supposedly to prevent the attachment of magnetic IED charges.

This has been seen on multiple Merkava III since 2025

It’s sponge from mattresses to prevent from the terrorist to apply a magnetic bomb on the tank which was very familiar with hamas

So small? Couldn't it be rest from some anti-magnetic layer, something like modern version of Zimmerit?

Abrams? Isnt that one of the weakeast areas? Right on the sideskirts above the last wheels next to the engine

remnants of anti-magnetic defenses

Looking at some modern MBT's several have a composite sandwich on their skirts of a thick backing plate, a thin layer of ceramic tiles and a thin covering plate bolted on top on their theatre entry packages. E.g Abrams, K2, Leopard, Challenger 2.

Inside, yes, but this is attached on the outside. Most likely, the crew installed these cubes themselves. It could possibly be rubber, intended to protect against magnetic mines.

No, its a standard feature. The cover plate is missing.

Nothing is missing here. These are additional panels mounted over the regular skirt.

The top plate of the composite skirt panels been blown off and tiles are missing, in fact at the front there is even broken steel. See the empty bolt holes and if you watch the video right at the start showing the rear you can see what it should look like with the cover plate.

No, you’re mistaken. The main skirt is still in place, and those little squares have simply been attached over it. Are you actually trying to understand or find something out? Google the Merkava 3 and look at what their side skirts look like.

Looks like tiles from the space shuttle.

Zimmerit 2.0?

Zimmerit 2.0

Yeah bro I cover my tanks with ceramic tiles I particularly like the Schluter systems.

Probably explosive reactive armor.

What? These small bricks 🧱

Its just an educated guess but, Ya those bricks being the explosive part. The outer shell isn't there. I am sure you know the idea is the outer shell slows and causes intitial blast lighting explosive inside and that detonates. That looks like spicy playdoh and the only thing that I can think of that would be playdoh on a tank like that is the explosive from the reactive armor.

No, ERA explosive modules aren't like that.

I know better than you or the author of this article how ERA works. There’s nothing even remotely similar to these small rectangular pieces.